End of tenancy access

amyh1985

Hi. I have been renting a property for 4+ years. In March I was served a S21 notice as Landlord needed to sell the property... and then COVID hit. Since the market has reopened the property has now sold. I was asked to vacate the property by 31.08.
i am currently working from home as my office base is still shut and I work in a role that involves confidential meetings/discussions. I was contacted about a survey however they could not give me a specific time; I explained my situation and requested for them to give me a rough time so I could try and make the relevant work arrangements. I got a call 24 hours before the tenantive date to say they would be coming between 8.30-2pm. I advised that I had an urgent work commitment that I could not rearrange and requested for a time either later that same day or any other time that week; the surveyor advised if I could not do that date/time their next available date would be after I have vacated the property.
have been contacted by landlord accusing me of refusing access to the property and advising that a surveyor or anyone else who needs access to the property will be doing so with her permission as per the rental agreement.
i understand the landlord is keen to move the sale forward, however I am also in the middle of vacating the property this week (final bits tomorrow) and I have been open about my working situation throughout this whole process. I am in the “vulnerable group” due to medical conditions but have still done my best to support and accommodate viewings etc. At no point have I refused access, however the time was just not convenient in relation to work.
I cannot see anything in my AST that says anyone can enter the property with the landlords permission? I understand not being able to accommodate the survey on a particular day is not ideal for the landlord, but I thought as a tenant in situ I was within my rights to try and arrange the visit at an agreeable time?
I did try to get around the work situation however there were multiple other people on the meeting call and my attendance was mandatory due to my job role. 

I am feeling quite anxious, I am moving the final bits of furniture tomorrow however feel very nervous about the landlord/anyone turning up. 

Does anyone have any advice on how best to deal with this? Was I wrong to say no to the survey due to work, was I obligated to accommodate the survey regardless of my personal situation, in which case breaching the tenancy agreement?  

A_Lert

Remind your landlord that they are not to send anyone in without your permission.

You have acted entirely correctly. Landlords do not get to enter the properties they rent out as and when they please. Requiring visits to be rescheduled is more than reasonable.

onwards&upwards

If you are going to be in and working just make sure the doors are locked with the keys in the locks, chain on, bolts on etc. so that nobody who tries to get in will be able to do so and just ignore them and get on with your work.  You might want to tell the surveyor this is what you will be doing so that they don't waste their time thinking they have permission to enter. 

You are perfectly within your rights not to let people into your home if you don't want them there. 

AdrianC

It's academic now, of course, but you were firmly in the right.

If somebody does arrive on Monday, the day you move out, will it be an issue?

bradders1983

Doubt a surveyor is going to turn up on a bank holiday.

AdrianC

Ah, of course. It's BH Monday...

Even more academic, then.

amyh1985

AdrianC said:

It's academic now, of course, but you were firmly in the right.

If somebody does arrive on Monday, the day you move out, will it be an issue?

I am just about to collect a van to start moving furniture etc today and tomorrow; so by Monday the house will be empty so that would not be an issue. My concern is around them turning up today/tomorrow whilst we are moving. I have had a previous unpleasant experience where the landlord arrived at the property with 3 family members and told me I didn’t clean the carpets or skirting boards well enough and it was quite intimidating. Also I’m worried that she is going to make an issue of the deposit if she is accusing me of breaching the agreement? 

dimbo61

So you need to be prepared !
Make sure the property is as clean as when you moved in ! No need for a " Professional clean " as No university in the country offers a degree course in professional cleaning so No such thing as Professional Cleaner.
Make sure you remove Everything you have brought into the property and empty the bins.
Take lots of photos and Hoover round/clean the property.
You have lived there 4 years so the landlord has to expect Fair wear and tear so WHEN the LL tried to make deductions refuse any deductions and take it to the DPD arbitration people .
Good luck 

AdrianC

amyh1985 said:
My concern is around them turning up today/tomorrow whilst we are moving. I have had a previous unpleasant experience where the landlord arrived at the property with 3 family members and told me I didn’t clean the carpets or skirting boards well enough and it was quite intimidating. Also I’m worried that she is going to make an issue of the deposit if she is accusing me of breaching the agreement? 

The only people that'll look like fools if they do are them. You have until the end of Monday to empty and clean the property, and you have the right to quiet enjoyment until then. If they don't return your deposit in full, then request it back from the protection service's arbitration. They have to prove any deductions are justified.

Blue_bell_20

I’m sure you will do but take lots of photos, to prove you left it clean and in a similar state to how you started. Then you also have evidence just in case they try to make a claim.